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Aamir’s parents, Iqbal and Parveen, fought to save their son but were also stabbed by his ‘howling’ killers.

Today Hope and Richards were jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 40 years each at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of Aamir's murder and the attempted murder of his parents.

Judge Justice Royce said: 'Your attack on Aamir Siddiqi was brutal, savage, callous and cruel. You hacked him to death in front of his parents, who fought in vain to save Aamir.

'It was simply good fortune that they were not killed. It was your intention that they should die too. The aggravating features of this case mean the starting point should significantly increase.

'The starting point is 40 years. If you die in jail, few will shed a tear and many will say it will be more than deserved.'

'Aamir’s parents have to live each day and each restless night with the vision of your knives plunging into their son.

'That vision is so clearly etched into their minds that they will never forget. The fact is that no sentence can bring back a life that you so despicably snuffed out.'

Aching with grief: Aamir's mother Parveen Siddiqi stold the court how she and her husband would have the murder of their son forever 'etched in their memory'

Comfort: Aamir's sister Umbareen Siddiqi (centre) said the family was 'delighted' with the 40 year sentences for Hope and Richards

Blundering: Aamir's house in Ninian Road, Cardiff (left), where he was murdered on the doorstep in error and the house in nearby Shirley Road (right) where the real target lived

Justice Royce said he was humbled by the strength and dignity of members of Aamir's family, who were in a packed public gallery for today's sentencing.

He said Hope and Richards were paid a 'pittance' for the killing and added that their desire to get their 'blood money' reflected a warped philosophy on life.

'Your concern was not with the family of Aamir but to escape and to get your money,' he added.

No remorse: Judge Justice Royce said the murder had been aggravated by a number of factors meaning Hope and Richards had to be given 40 year minimum terms each

Mr Justice Royce added that the pair,
who met in prison, had shown no remorse for their crimes, and singled
out Richards' 'strutting arrogance' when he gave evidence.

He said there were no mitigating
factors and listed six aggravating features which proved why the case's
seriousness was 'exceptionally high' - the murder of a child, the murder
of a child in front of his parents, the two attempted murders, the fact
a great deal of premeditation had gone into the killing, and both
defendants' previous convictions.

In a statement read to the court, Aamir's mother Parveen said her body ached with grief and told how she and her husband are now afraid to answer to the front door because of what happened.

She also said the couple have had to
to sell their once-cherished family home and move away from Cardiff due
to the painful daily memories the city holds.

Mr Justice Royce also told how
Aamir's parents had the terrible sight of their son being hacked to
death by Hope and Richards 'etched on to their memories'.

Hope and Richards were each given a
life sentence with a minimum 40-year term, and 15-year custodial terms -
to run concurrently - for the attempted murder of Aamir's parents.

It means they will not be eligible for parole until they are in their late 70s.

'Our brother won't return to us but this will go some way to achieving peace for all of us.'

South Wales Police Detective
Superintendent Paul Hurley described the murder as one of the worst he
had seen in his 27-year career, adding: 'This is a substantial custodial
sentence reflecting the horrific and brutal murder of young Aamir
Siddiqi in his own home.

'South Wales Police would like to
thank the communities of Cardiff for their continued support, all the
prosecution witnesses who've played an important role in this
investigation and importantly the family of Aamir Siddiqi who've shown
the utmost dignity and respect throughout this process.'

Next street: The criminals had been paid £1,000 to kill their target in Shirley Road in Roath, Cardiff but got it wrong

Aamir had been waiting for his Koran teacher when he heard the doorbell ring and ran downstairs to answer it.

As soon as he opened the door, he was
set upon by Hope and Richards who howled as they plunged knives into
their victim’s neck and chest.

The pair had been hired to attack a middle-aged man who lived with his family in a neighbouring street in Roath Park, Cardiff.

They had been contracted to
carry out their lethal attack at a different address.

The man who paid Hope and Richards
cannot be named for legal reasons.

The intended target was
father-of-four Mohammed Tanhai, who had unwittingly become indebted to
the killers’ employer.

During the four-and-a-half month trial the jury heard how Hope used his share of
the payment to buy a laptop and a pair of trainers. He and his
accomplice both denied murder, and blamed each other for the fatal
stabbing in April 2010.

But after a three-month trial they were found guilty of murdering Aamir and of attempting to murder his parents.

Members of the jury had wept openly as
they listened to the harrowing 999 call made by Aamir’s devastated
mother. The retired education official was heard screaming down the
phone as she told the operator: ‘Two men came into my house with knives
and masks.

They stabbed my son, stabbed my husband and they stabbed me
as well.’

The court heard how the pair went straight off to collect their money before Hope spent £700 on a laptop in PC World and £100 in a Foot Locker shoe shop just hours after the horrific killing.

'As soon as you ran away you the two of you headed to your grubby pay off of £1,000 each,' said Judge Royce.

'What a pittance for a human life. But it reflects your cavalier attitude to killing.

'You went and collected your modern equivalent of 30 pieces of silver.'

Earlier in the hearing Aamir's grieving family paid tribute to a
‘beautiful person’ who had dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

Judge Joyce said he had no choice but to 'significantly increase' the minimum term of 30 years the prosecution had asked for.

He said: 'Aamir Siddiqi was the youngest child and only son of Sheikh Iqbal and Parveen Ahmed.'He was a bright, gentle and courteous boy who was much loved by his family.

'He had secured a place to study law at Cardiff and his future was brimming with promise.

'He was awaiting the arrival of his Koran teacher when he rushed past his parents to open the door.

'You two came in, wearing balaclavas and making a terrible wailing sound.'

‘Hope and Richards had been recruited
to carry out an attack over a debt but tragically for Aamir and his
family, the killers went to the wrong house.'

Bereft: Iqbal Siddiqi (L) the father of tragic Aamir was also attacked, as was his wife

After the conviction, which was met
with audible relief from Aamir’s family, his father, Iqbal, 70, said:
‘With his departure, life has become very empty and somewhat
meaningless. Aamir was everything in my life.’

He added: ‘He had a photographic
memory and could read something and remember it all. He would see
something and never forget. That is why he decided to be a lawyer when
he grew up.’